Spring clip



Dec. 23, 1958 G. D. HARTSHORN SPRING CLIP Filed Nov. 7, 1957 GeogyeD o acisiorzz.

United States Patent SPRING our George D. Hartshorn, Harvey, 11]., assignor to Brasco Manufacturing Company, Harvey, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application November7, 19l57, Serial N 695,091:

6 Claims. (Cl'. 20-564) My invention relatesto a spring clip for window sash construction and has particular reference to a clip used in connection. with: store front: construction for holding a" glass pane in position against an inner sash member and also servesto hold an outer sash member in position against theglass pane and provides means whereby the window pane is anchored in position in sash members without the-use of screws, levers, and the like, formerly used. for this. purpose. 7

Another object of my invention is the provision of a sash member in which the spring tension of the device is distributed throughout the major part of the sash holding portion of the clip in such manner that no great amount of. tension is presentin any particular portion of the spring, thereby enabling the formation of a highly tempered clipwhich is quite stiff and strong in its operation with the tension. distributed throughout the spring in such manner that no single part is. subjected to a-large degree of flexing thereby adding, to the'long life of the spring and: preventing metal fatigue from taking place in thespringduring its: operation.

I am' familiar with the use of spring clips for this purpose but in general, these spring clips have not been as satisfactory as'they; should be in these positions: for the reason that the area of flexibility in these springs has been limited to such; an. extent that the metal forming the springs would: becomefatigued and they would lose their strength resulting; in: loose fitting or inbreakage. over. a period of time, and they have not been strong: enough to securely anchor the various parts together so they are firmly held. against rattling, andthe like. .My improved clip is intended tov overcome these difficulties in that the area of fiexure: is. distributed to such anextentthat very little fiexing movement. takes place at any particular point in the spring so. that'metal fatigue is avoided and longer life. will be given to the. clip.

Another and further object of my invention is the provision. of a spring clipwhich, in addition. to applying a spring pressure against the glass pane,v also. applies spring pressure against the outer sash member resulting in the outer sashmember, being held more securely in position against the window and which will not become loose in use of the springclip due to vibration of the glass pane, particularly if applied in large sections such as is necessary for store front construction.

Another and! further object of my invention. is. the provision of a spring clipwhich can be easily inserted from the outside. of a building during the placing therein of a glasspane which, in the size used for store front construction, is quite heavy and requires special handling by several fitters to be properly placed in position and which when placed. in position from the outside of the building, can be secured by placing a number of these spring clipsin spaced relation into the inner sash member and against the pane securely holding the pane in position and which can be lifted in this position and the outer sash member snapped thereover at some later time.

These and other objects of my invention will be more fully and better understood by reference tothe accom panying drawings in which-- Fig. 1 is a sectional view through a typical storefront installation and showing an end view of my improved clip; and

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the spring clip inex panded position. I

Referring now specifically to the drawings and in whichlike reference characters refer to like partsthroughout, a base plate 10 is shown which can be fitted-over the base sill forming a part of a window frame or whichma'y be placed upon a brick, or some other type masonry constructed wall and which has an innersa'sh member 11 mounted thereon which comprises a top 12 havinga; fiange- 13 thereon which is fitted against the inner sash of? a glass pane 14 and which has an intermediate wall'15" having an outwardly projecting rib 16 thereon and'with a back wall 17 having an inwardly turned flange I8 thereon which is fitted against the base plate 10. The member 11 has a bottom plate 19 which rests upon the base plate 10 and which has a rib 20formed' thereon for purposes hereinafter described, with an undercut surface 21 along the inner side of the rib 20. The bottom plate 19 of the member 11 extends beyond the rib 20 for a short distance and has an inclined outer edge 22- which assists in the final steps in the assembling of the various storefront parts as will be hereinafter described;

The bottom plate 19 is secured to the base plate 10 by means of a screw 23- passing therethroughwith the base plate 10 having a longitudinal rib 24 thereon against which the bottom portion of the wall 15' abuts so that the member 11 is held in firmly fixed position on thebase plate 10. Normally, the back wall 17 of theinner member 11 abuts against a portion of the window frame, but the portion of the top wall 11 and back wall 17 can be omitted if desired so as to make the inner wall member 11 somewhat narrower than is shown in the drawing. A spring clip designated as a whole as 25 is provided which has a U-shaped end portion 26 which is slidably positioned under the rib 16, a base portion 27 with curved angular disposed portion 28 which is inclined inwardly slightly so as to engage the undercut surface 21 of the rib 20 and which, in turn, has an outwardly extending portion 29 thereon downwardly turned at its outer portion to form a recess 30 on the underside thereof with a portion 31 upward and outwardly extending at an obtuse angle to the section 29 and an outer end portion 32 ex.- tending at right angles to theportion 31 and inward and upward towards the window pane 14, The window pane engaging section of the spring 25 comprises a portion 33 which. extends from the U-shaped end 26 parallel with the base portion 27 of the spring 25, with a portion 34 being provided which is turned upward at 35' at an obtuse angle to the portion 33, with a third portion 36' being continuous with the portion 36 but turned at a right angle 37 thereto, the portion 36 having an inwardly turned flange 38 thereon, with a rib 39 on its outward end. which extends downward and outward a short distance substantially parallel with the portion 36 of the spring 25, and has a surface 40 thereon for engagement against theglass pane 14, and which, when the spring 25 is placed in position. in the inner sash member 11, engages the glass pane 14 and holds it in position against the flange 13 onthe inner sash member 11.

An outer sash member 41 is provided which is generally rectangular in shape and has a top wall 42 havingan inwardly turned flange 43 thereon with an inclined face 44 which fits against the outer surface of the flange 38 on the spring 25 with an outside wall 45 being pro.-

- vided and an inwardly extending bottom wall 46 which has a flange 47 thereon with the wall 46 being sligbtly'ana gularly positioned upward and which, when in assembled relation, rides over the inclined edge 22 on the bottom plate 19 and rests upon the extension of the bottom section 19 beyond the rib 20 with the upper edge of the flange 47 engaged in the recess 30 on the underside of the extension 29 of the spring 25.

The clip is made of very highly tempered spring steel and is. quite strong and stiff in. order to hold the parts together. It is fashioned in the form shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings and which, however, when placed in assemblednposition in a window sash construction such as a store front and placed under tension, relative positions of the various parts of the spring change due to its being flexed into position to hold the glass pane in position and also further flexed .when the outer sash member 41 is also placed in position.

In the assembling operation, it will be understood that the window opening is prepared for the mounting of the glass .pane section 14 therein with the base and the inner sash, member 11 permanently fixed in position. The pane 14., is thereupon mounted in position against the flange 13 on the inner sash member 11 and the usual blocks placed under the pane section to support it in proper vertical relation against the member 11. Thereafter, clips 25 are inserted in spaced relation with each other by flexing the pane engaging portion of the clip slightly and inserting the U-shaped portion 26 of the clip 25 under the rib 16 on the inner sash member 11 and pushing the clip into position until the base portion 27 is resting upon the lower wall 19 of the inner sash member 11 and the base portion 27 of the clip 25 is in position against the inclined face 21 on the rib with the surface 40 bearing against the glass pane 14 in which position the major points of flexure of the pane engaging portion of the clip are in the portions 33 and 34 of the clip, in the U-shaped end 26 and at the bent portion 35. After the clips are placed in position, the glass pane 14 is held firmly in position and the outer sash member 41 may be put into position at once or may be delayed for several days if desired. The outer sash member 41 is thereupon placed in position with the bottom 46 of the outer sash member resting upon the base plate 10 and pushed inward with the bottom portion 46 of the outer sash member riding upward over the inclined edge 22 of the bottom 19 of the inner sash member and the edge of the flange 43 riding upward in the portion 36 with the flange 47 raising the spring extension 29 and the pane engaging portion of the clip 25 being flexed downward slightly so the flange 43 passes into engagement with the flange 38 and against the pane 14, while the flange 47 becomes lodged in the recess on the underside of the extension 29. As a result of the initial placing of the clip 25 in position to hold the pane 14 in place and the placing of the outer sash member 41 in position, the Whole arrangement is placed under suchtension that should any slight movement of the parts take place due to vibration, wind pressure, or the like, the glass pane 14 is held firmly in position. When the outer sash member 41 is pushed into position, the section 36 of the spring is pushed downward, flexing the spring slightly at points and 37 so that the clip is compressed slightly to put an outward pressure on the outer sash member 41 thereby anchoring it in position to form a part of the window construction, but permitting the sash member to be removed should it become desirable to do so to replace a broken pane, or the like. The clip 25 is also put under tension in a counter-clockwise tortional direction so that the base 27 of the spring rests firmly upon the bottom portion 19, the inner sash member 11 at a point adjacent the curve portion 28 and the side of the U-shaped portion 26 is brought firmly into engagement with the underside of the rib 16 which movement distributes the tortional movement of the spring from the U-shaped end through the sections 33 and 34 and portion 35 which has the effect of lessening the tension throughout the body of the spring at any particular point and results in longer life of the clip, enables a stronger and stiffer clip to be manufactured and in which metal fatigue is materially lessened, thus, adding to the life of the mounting. The end 32 of the base portion of the clip 25 is spaced slightly from the upper end of the portion 34 and in alinement therewith so as to engage the sash engaging portion of the clip 25 thereby reinforcing it and preventing an over flexure of the sash engaging portion of the clip 25 thereby lessening the tension of this portion of the clip and preventing its breaking, and also under pressure from dynamic wind loading the glass pane 14, will move outward causing the window pane engaging section of the clip to be deflected toward the end 32 of the base member. After contact with the end of the portion 32, no further deflection of the glass pane 14 can occur because the force of the thrust on the end of the portion 32 will be transmitted through portion 32 and 31 onto the edge of the flange 47 at point 30 which is practically unyielding. The clip 25 thus becomes substantially self-locking which allows a slight deflection but provides a safety factor for an overload because of unusual deflection of the glass pane.

Should it be desired at any time to replace the glass pane, the outer sash member 41 can be removed by having a straight outward pull exerted upon it, the spaced clips 25 removed and the broken pane of glass taken out and replaced with a new pane in the same manner as was followed in the mounting of the original pane of glass.

While I have described more or less precisely the details of construction, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself thereto, as I contemplate changes in form, the proportion of parts and the substitution of equivalents as circumstances may suggest or render expedient without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A spring clip for glass pane sash mounting consisting of a spring member fashioned intermediate its ends into a U-shape end portion and into a base portion and also into a combined glass pane engaging and outer sash member holding portion, the said base portion resting upon and supported by the bottom portion of an inner sash member and having an offset portion in engagement with a rib on the said bottom portion of the inner sash member and also having an outward extension for engagement with a portion of an outer sash member, the said glass pane and outer sash member holding portion consisting of a plurality of spring portions angularly connected with each other in continuous form and terminating in an angular flange in engagement with both the glass pane and a portion of the outer sash member.

2. A spring clip for glass pane sash mounting consisting of a spring member fashioned intermediate its ends into a U-shape end portion and into a base portion and also into a combined glass pane engaging and outer sash member holding portion, the said base portion resting upon and supported by the bottom portion of an inner sash member and having an offset portion in engagement with a rib on the said bottom portion of the inner sash member and also having an outward extension for engagement with a portion of an outer sash member,- the said glass pane engaging portion consisting of a portion continuous with the U-shaped portion, a second portion extending at an obtuse angle, the said first mentioned portion and a third portion extending at substantially a right angle to the said second portion, the said third portion having a flange therein for engagement with the glass pane and one edge of an outer sash member.

3. A spring clip for glass pane sash mounting consisting of a spring member fashioned intermediate its ends into a U-shape end portion and into a base portion and also into a combined glass pane engaging and outer sash member holding portion, the said base portion resting upon and supported by the bottom portion of an inner sash member and having an offset portion in engagement with a rib on the said bottom portion of the inner sash member and also having an outward extension for engagement with a portion of an outer sash member, the said glass pane and outer sash member holding portion comprising a section connected with the U-shaped end portion and extending substantially parallel with but spaced from the said base portion, a second section integrally formed with said first mentioned section extending at an obtuse angle thereto and a third section integrally formed with the said second section extending substantially at a right angle thereto and terminating in a flange portion in engagement with a glass pane and with a rib formed on an outer sash member.

4. A spring clip for glass pane sash mounting consisting of a spring member fashioned intermediate its ends into a U-shape end portion and into a base portion and also into a combined glass pane engaging and outer sash member holding portion, the said base portion resting upon and supported by the bottom portion of an inner sash member and having an ofiset portion in engagement with a rib on the said bottom portion of the inner sash member and also having an outward extension with a recess in one side thereof for engagement with a rib formed on an outer sash member, the said glass pane and outer sash member holding portion comprising a section connected with the U-shaped end portion and extending substantially parallel with but spaced from the said base portion, a second section integrally formed with said first mentioned section extending at an obtuse angle thereto and a third section integrally formed with the said second section extending substantially at a right angle thereto and terminating in a flange portion in engagement with a glass pane and with a rib formed on an outer sash member.

5. A spring clip for glass pane sash mounting consisting of a spring member fashioned intermediate its ends into a U-shape end portion and into a base portion and also into a combined glass pane engaging and outer sash member holding portion, the said base portion resting upon and supported by the bottom portion of an inner sash member and having an oifset portion in engagement with a rib on the said bottom portion of the inner sash member and also having an outward extension for engagement with a portion of an outer sash member, the said glass pane and outer sash member holding portion comprising a section connected with the U-shaped end portion and extending substantially parallel with but spaced from the said base portion, a second section integrally formed with said first mentioned section extending at an obtuse angle thereto and a third section integrally formed with the said second section extending substantially at a right angle thereto and terminating in a flange portion in engage ment with a glass pane and with a rib formed on an outer sash member, the said glass pane and outer sash holding member exerting a spring pressure against the glass pane and against a rib on the outer sash member and also spring pressure transversely of the said outer sash member.

6. A spring clip for glass pane sash mounting consisting of a spring member fashioned intermediate its ends into a U-shape end portion and into a base portion and also into a combined glass pane engaging and outer sash member holding portion, the said base portion resting upon and supported by the bottom portion of an inner sash member and having an offset portion in engagement with a rib on the said bottom portion of the inner sash member and also having an outward extension for engagement with a portion of an outer sash member, the said glass pane and outer sash member holding portion comprising a section connected with the U-shaped end portion and extending substantially parallel with but spaced from the said base portion, a second section integrally formed with said first mentioned section extending at an obtuse angle thereto and a third section integrally formed with the said second section extending substantially at a right angle thereto and terminating in a flange portion in engagement with a glass pane and with a rib formed on an outer sash member, the said glass pane and outer sash holding member exerting a spring pressure against the glass pane and against a rib on the outer sash member and also spring pressure transversely of the said outer sash member, the free end of the base portion terminating adjacent to but spaced from the outer sash member holding portion of the clip whereby the outer sash holding portion is supported against over deflection.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,268,269 Toney et al Dec. 30, 1941 2,813,313 Shrode Nov. 19, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,079,657 France May 19, 1954 

